For years I’ve been reading about Logan Botanic Garden in Dumfries and Galloway, that part of Scotland has a milder climate than the rest of the country, being in the south west the weather is most influenced by the Gulf Stream so is usually frost free, hence tree ferns can safely be grown there as you can see. I must admit that they’re not my favourite sort of plants but there were plenty of others to admire.
The Mecanopsis obviously enjoy the growing conditions there. This must be the most often manslaughtered plant in the UK. I’ve tried it several times in various gardens and I’m trying it yet again, so far so good although it hasn’t flowered yet.
There was a shy and retiring big orange bird wandering about in the Australasian section, I hope there are more of its kind to keep it company.
You might find it hard to believe but neither of us had seen newts before, this pond was full of them.
These ‘palm’ trees are often grown in coastal places around Scotland but they’re usually a lot more scruffy looking.
It seems that wherever you wander in Scotland there’s a castle or tower ruin nearby and the same goes for Logan Botanic Garden which has Balzieland Castle in the middle of it, it isn’t open to the public but if you’re interested in its history have a look here..
It was a gorgeous afternoon and I had a lovely time but I must admit that I much prefer native plants to exotic plants which are quite likely to need mollycoddling to get through the winter, although maybe that’s not really necessary at this location.
I know what you mean about the exotics; there are plenty of tree ferns and palm trees in Cornwall and I’m glad we have none in our immediate neighbourhood. That garden does look lovely though đŸ™‚
Sandra,
It is lovely but I wouldn’t like to have it as my garden and I doubt if they’re much good for native wildlife.
I feel the same way about tropical plants. But standing in a rain forest of huge tree ferns on St. Lucia was awesome. The Mecanopsis is lovely. I managed to grow it and have it flower – once! I had just told someone that, according to your posts, you can’t walk 2 feet without stumbling over a ruin, standing stones, or a castle!
Joan,
Slight exaggeration at 2 feet but not much! I’m about 200 yards away from the nearest standing stones, a mile and a half from the nearest inhabited castle and three miles from the nearest palace!
How interesting to see such exotic-looking plants!
Those in the first photo look like Chusan Palms.
Tree-ferns can be a very lush and graceful thing, especially if growing naturally in dense damp native forest – I hope this link might show them for you:
https://www.nzthunder.co.nz/rides?lightbox=dataItem-iwbljyy2
(If it doesn’t you could do a google image search for “Fitzgerald Glade NZ”)
That Pheasant looks in good condition!
The “Cabbage Trees” (Cordyline australis) in photo 8 are flourishing.
It’s quite remarkable to see how the Gulf Stream can bring such a comparatively benign climate.
Valerie,
Thanks for that link, they look great when they’re tall and amongst other trees, but in most places here they don’t grow much and spend at least half the year wrapped in blankets.
So that bird is a type of pheasant – very different from the pheasants we have here, much bigger and more colourful. I thought I remembered that those ‘palms’ are called Cabbage Trees, they tend to be a bit care worn looking when they’re grown here but often they do flower.